Figure 1.--Here we see an English boy (aged about 7 or 8 years old) wearing a Fauntleroy blouse. The photo was dated 1910. The boy's blouse has lace on the cuffs of the sleeves as well as on the collar and down the front opening. This was a colored blouse, but I'm not sure what color. Click on the image for a fuller discussion. |
HBC has not yet been able to assess English shirts and blouses. Our information is still quite limited. We have, however, done some work on collars, in particular Eton and lace collars. The Eton collar was a major style worn by English boys during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but rapidly declined until after World War I. We notice younger boys wearing fancy blouses, but not nearly as common as in France. British boys commonly wore standard pointed collars. We do not notice boys in the post-World War II era wearing colorful shirts, perhas because school uniforms became so common. Also button-down collars were not nearly as popular as in the United States.
Our information on English blouses is still quite limited. The most common blouse was of course the sailor-styled middy blouse. We notice younger boys wearing fancy blouses, but not nearly as common as in France. We notice some younger boys wearing blouses with Peter Pan collars.
We have, however, done some work on collars worn with shirt waists. To of the most important are Eton and lace collars. The lace collar was especially popular in the late 19th century and was commonly worn as a pin-on style. The Eton collar was a major style worn by English boys during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but rapidly declined until after World War I.
British boys after World War I commonly wore standard pointed collars. We do not notice boys in the post-World War II era wearing colorful shirts, perhaps because school uniforms became so common. Most boys wore plain grey shirts to school because they did not show the dirt. White shirts were also worn, especially for dress up occassions. Some readers in the 1960s and 70s recall wearing nylon white shirts. Some liked them, ithers thought that they uncomfotable. After World War II we begin to see blue shirts at some scools. Also button-down collars were not nearly as popular as in the United States.
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